THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MONGOLIA

1st hall:  Prehistory of Mongolia

This hall is displaying about the prehistory of Mongolia. Archaeological digs have uncovered human remains dating back to nearly 800 000 years ago and it has signified that these early humans spread over much of Central Asia. Therefore, it can be believe that Mongolia is one of the cradles of humanity. Excavations have also revealed burial sites, graves, petroglyphs, and tools from the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze Ages throughout present-day Mongolia. The hall can be showed number of interesting objects related with prehistory of Mongolia. Specially findings from the Neolithic grave and settlement of Mongolia. Also you can realize about Deer stone, the Burial mound and Slab burial, Rock art sites of the Mongolian Bronze and Early Iron Age.  The museum’s bronze items are one of the great collections of the Eurasia.    

Deer stones are found singly or in-groups of up to twenty stones, as either tombstones or markers of dedicatory sites. They are between one and four meters high. The four sides of a long oblong stone are nicely trimmed and the total surface is divided horizontally into three bands. All around the upper section are images of the sun and moon, and in the middle section are many deer, leaping and flying. The lower section is decorated with carvings of knives, swords, bows and quivers, battle-axes, whetstones, hooks, mirrors and so on. Some examples of these deer stones have a carved human head and face in the upper section. Scholars of these stone monuments estimate that they range in age from the second millennium to the third century BC. Five hundred and fifty deer stones have been found in Mongolia, and another 200 or so in the countries surrounding it.

In the Ancient History hall, you can see a replica of such deer stone from Uushgiin ovor (Huvsgul aimag). 

2nd hall:  Ancient States Period (Hunnu, Turkish and Uighur State)

These archaeological remains, coupled with ancient texts, clearly indicate that nomadic tribes were widespread in Central Asia. The first brief information about these ancient tribes, the ancestors of the Mongols, is note in sources that date back to 2000 BC.  It was noted by the Chinese old books the tribes that called Umard Di or "The Di (their tribe name) in the north".  For more than a thousand years, from the 5th century BC to the 9th century AD, nomadic tribes by the names of Hunnu, Syanbi, Toba, Jujan, Turk, Uighur and Khidan established their empires in what is today Mongolia. Some of these tribes came to power through war, some through treaties.

  (Hunnu's felt carpet.Tub province. Noyon Mountain)

While some of these tribes were Mongolians, others were Turkish and Manchu. However, they shared similar culture, traditions, and customs. They were all nomadic cultures of course, but engaged in hunting and small-scale agriculture as well.

3rd hall: Traditional Clothing and Jewellery (17th-19th Century)

This hall is displayed about Mongolian’s traditional clothing and jewelers. Statistics from 2003 show the total population of Mongolia as 2,475,400, which consists of two nationalities; Mongolian and Turkish. 95.7 % of the population is of the Mongolian nationality and 4.3 percent are Khazakh people of Turkish origin. Mongolia has approximately 20 ethnic groups all together, including Khalkh, Durbud, Buriyad and Zakhchin. The Khalkh ethnic group dominates with the largest population. Most groups have their own traditional clothing and ornaments reflecting the natural environment, history and customs of the groups, as well as the age, gender and social status of the person wearing them. Ethnic costumes are highly significant cultural objects, as the traditional costumes are great representations of the unique Mongolian nomadic lifestyle and traditions. These are made up of del (caftan), vest, sash, jacket, boots and hat. There are over 400 styles of del, 100 types of hats, 20 types of boots, and 30 types of sashes. To complement the beautiful woven silk of the del specially designed, contrasting borders, and even semi-precious stones such as coral and pearl are sewn onto the clothing.  Also has a formal dress of a prince and princess from the early 20th century, clothing of the last Mongolian Khan, outfits of government leaders of communist times and the ceremonial outfit of the first democratically elected president of the 20th century.

 

4th hall:  The Mongolian Empire (13th-14th Century)‏

   

5th Hall: Mongolia in the 17th-19th Century

After the Mongolian Empire, Mongols lost their previous unity and were divided into Eastern Mongols and Western Mongols. Then in the 16th century, the Eastern Mongols split up into Outer Mongolia and Inner Mongolia. The Mongols waged war on each other and dominance went first to Western Mongolia, and then Eastern Mongolia became the more powerful.

The Manchurians conquered Mongolia in 1691 and the Manchurian colonization lasted for 220. By the beginning of the 20th Century Mongolians were embroiled in struggle for national liberation, which finally bore fruit in December 1911, when the Manchurians withdrew and Mongolia's independence was proclaimed in Urguu (as Ulaanbaatar was previously known). Mongolia's theocratic ruler Bogd Khan was awarded power across the entire country.

6th Hall: Mongolian Traditional Culture

We are trying to show Mongolian traditional culture during the 17th- 20th Centuries. It has been included whole human life’s culture as well as the language, script, musical instrument, traditional game and religions. Our native language is Mongolian, which is spoken in Mongolian and understood throughout the country. Our script known as Mongolian script called Mongol bichig which is written from the top downwards.  

Religion
Traditionally, Mongols practiced Shamanism, worshipping Blue Sky. As part of their shamanistic heritage, the people practice ritualistic magic, nature worship, exorcism, meditation, and natural healing. However, Tibetan Buddhism (also called Vajrayana) gained more popularity after it was introduced in 16th Century. Tibetan Buddhism shared the common Buddhist goals of individual release from suffering and reincarnation.  At the beginning of the 20th century, Mongolia had hundreds of Buddhist monasteries and about 30 percent of all men were monks.

7th Hall: Mongolian Traditional Lifestyle

It’s showing about Mongolian nomadic lifestyle. There has been very little change in the way of living of Mongolian nomads for several hundred years. Their ancestors inhabited a huge area of Central Asian steppe and mountain steppe, moving from one place to other seeking better pastures for their animals since whenever they started to exist, through the ancient time between 200 BC to the present.

The extreme climate and geography as well as the landlocked condition greatly influenced the Mongols wax of life that has always lived close to the animals and close to the steppes. The Mongolian nomads are often called 'five animal people', because the nomadic society is based on the five principal animals traditionally herded: horses, camels, cattle, sheep and goats. They also keep yaks used for producing milk and cheese.  The horse is the most important of the five animals. It is the perfect means of the transport for the terrain. To catch the horse, Mongols use polo-lasso named "uurga" consisting in a rope loop at the end of a very long pole. Mares are milked and fermented milk is the Mongolians' favorite drink "airag" which can then be distilled in an alcohol, "arkhi", and the typical Mongolian vodka. The camel they breed is the two-humped camel able to endure the extremes of cold and hot. The camel as well as the yak is used as beasts of burden specially to transport the dismantled ger from place to place.

By far the most useful contribution made by the early nomads of the steppe to future culture is the domed, felt tent that Mongolians call a ger. The five-wall ger is the housing unit, which more than half of the Mongolian population still uses. The size of ger depends upon the number of walls, known as ‘hana’. There are several sizes: four walls, five walls, over eight walls. Mongolians always build their ger with the door facing south.  Eighty-three roof poles connect the lattice walls with the roof ring, which is supported by two columns. The roof ring lets in light and air and serves as a sundial. Several layers of felt cover the ger lattice in the cold winter. During the hot summer months, all but one felt layer is removed. In very hot weather, this layer is lifted up, allowing breeze to come through the lattice. Thus, the ger is suitable for the wide range of temperatures that make up the Mongolian climate. As it can be dismantled or erected within a short time, it also fits the nomadic lifestyle. The interior furnishings show that in a nomadic society, everyday items can become objects of art.  


In Mongolia a settled agricultural life hasn’t been widely because herders have to move from a pasture to another.

Nomads move several times a year. The longest period they stay in the same pasture is between Oct and late Apr. Every nomadic family has a winter place with a fence and shelter made of stones and wood called 'uvuljuu'. Apart from protecting livestock from the cold of harsh winter, animals give birth to their young in an 'uvuljuu' around late winter and early spring. Usual daily activities of nomads are all to do with herding their livestock and processing its raw material to convert them into food, clothing and shelters, such as feeding animals, training horses, cutting sheep wool, brushing cashmere, making felts and milking animals as well as producing dairy products.

8th Hall: Bogd Khan State (1911-1919 years)

The 20th century was full of changes and struggles for the Mongolian people. The Manchu Dynasty had long maintained a policy of preventing Chinese settlement in Mongolia but a new Empress implemented a policy in 1900 mandating the Chinese settlement of Mongolia to encourage agriculture and assimilate Mongolians through intermarriage. Mongolians recognized that this would effectively lead to Mongolia becoming a province of China. The Mongolian people opposed this policy and in 1911 sought independence from Manchu China, with the help of Russia. At this point, the religious leader of Mongolia Jubzundamba was proclaimed Religious and Political leader – state khan of Mongolia. His title was changed to Bogd Khan.  In 1911 there was a revolution in China that resulted in the founding of a new presidential republic in 1912.
In 1915 China, Russia and Mongolia finally signed a treaty granting Mongolia autonomy. From this time until 1919, Russia and Mongolia had a very productive relationship. Russia provided financial aid for the development of state schools for Mongolians, for the establishment of a Mongolian army, and for newspapers, electricity and telecommunication centers.

9th Hall: Socialist Mongolia

We hope this hall is really interesting period of our history. When you would interest this hall’s exhibit has displayed 20th Century’s Mongolia. Its mean how was changed nomadic Mongolia. After civil wars in both Russia and China broke out in 1919, the Chinese decided to dissolve Mongolian autonomy. Resistance groups were formed including the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP). With the support of the Bogd Khan, this organization sent representatives to Russia in 1921. D.Suhbaatar, a member of the MPP, carried a petition bearing the Bogd Khan’s stamp hidden inside his riding crop. The Bolsheviks agreed to support Mongolia and the MPP organized a government and armed forces. S.Danzan was the Party leader and Suhbaatar was the head of military.

On 11 July 1921, the socialist revolution, known as People's Revolution took place. In 1924, The Mongolian People's Party proclaimed Mongolia a People's Republic. The congress endorsed the Republic's first constitution. As Mongolia maintained strong links with the former Soviet Union, the socialist era continued until 1990, when democratic changes first started in Mongolia. 

10th Hall: Democratic Mongolia /1989 to the Present

By 1989, the Mongolian people were well aware of the problems in their government, which had inhabited the same basic reforms that General Secretary Gorbachev had in the Soviet Union. But we were not prepared for the total collapse of communism in one country after another. First Poland, then other Eastern bloc nations and even Russia declared in 1991 that national-level communism is not viable. In November 1989 that Berlin Wall was torn down as East Germany joined West Germany. This act spurred Mongolians to oppose the Communist government. In Ulaanbaatar, young Mongolians quickly formed an activist group and news on the posting political slogans and news on the steeds. Within a month, they formed the Mongolian Democratic Union, naming S.Zorig, a young lecturer in scientific communism at Mongolian State University, their leader and spokesman. They scheduled their first demonstration against the Communist government for December 10, 1989, International Human Rights Day.

On  March 10, 1990, the democratic forces in Ulaanbaatar held  hunger strike in Sukhbaatar Square, the main square facing the parliament building  Their stated purpose was to force the resignation of the MPRP Central Committee and establish a Provisionary People’s Assembly that would restructure government along democratic had capitalist lines. Despite the winter cold, many people gathered in the square and remained there until nightfall, discussing the events or supporting the hunger strikers. Some looked bewildered, others amused or concerned.

Representatives of the MPRP leadership met with representatives from the new MDU to discuss the situation. Both sides made concessions. As the conclusion of the meeting the delegates announced to the people that the communist government would meet the demands of the hunger strikers. The hunger strike ended before any of the participants became ill or died. The hunger strike served s a shock that triggered popular involvement in the democratic social movement.

On 10 December 1989 International Human Right’s day, they started the demonstration with the song “The Sound of Bell”

“….The darkness choked the words I wanted to say It clouded the eyes with which I wanted to see But luckily, the bell rang With great effort, I woke from the nightmare Let the bell’s sound wake us up The sound of the bell is waking us…”

The bell of independence and freedom rang in the minds of Mongolians as they joined the peaceful demonstrators sang, holding hands and calling for people to join the fight against communism.